SC Teacher Leadership News

We are pleased to bring you the third edition of the South Carolina Teacher Leadership newsletter. Our goal is to provide a collaborative resource that highlights state and district level teacher leadership activities, outlines issues related to South Carolina education, and sparks ideas among Teacher Forums.

The District Teachers of the Year met in Columbia for a one day workshop to collaborate around leadership, goal setting, and developing a voice. The teachers participated in a number of activities in which they reflected on choices they have made, situations they have found themselves in, and opportunities they have before them. South Carolina Future Minds and Kathy Maness shared information with them about the upcoming Teacher of the Year banquet and legislative day. At the end of the day, they were surprised by Bojangles with at least 40 books each to use in their classroom library or school’s media center.

Throughout the week of March 5th-9th, State Superintendent Molly Spearman traveled the state surprising five teachers who have been selected as the 2019 South Carolina Honor Roll Teachers. These five teachers are finalists for State Teacher of the Year. The State Department will now conduct interviews and videotape classroom lessons as part of the process for the selection of the next South Carolina Teacher of the Year. Each of these educators will be celebrated at the South Carolina Teacher of the Year banquet in May when one of them will assume the title of South Carolina Teacher of the Year. The Honor Roll Teachers will work with the 2019 South Carolina Teacher of the Year to advocate and promote teacher leadership throughout the year.

One of these five finalists will serve as the 2019 South Carolina Teacher of the Year. The remaining four finalists will serve as 2019 South Carolina Honor Roll Teachers. The announcement will be made on May 2nd.

District Teacher Forums across the state are participating in a variety of activities to advocate for the profession and develop Teacher Leaders. If you are looking for ideas for your Forum, check out what is happening in other districts…

Reminder: In 2018-19, South Carolina will begin using a new evaluation tool for all classroom-based teachers. The South Carolina Teaching Standards 4.0 rubric will become part of the Expanded ADEPT Support and Evaluation System. District teams have already begun training on the new instrument, and teachers will be learning about it during the 2017-18 academic year.

Those interested in pursuing National Board Certification can register as early as April 1, 2018. Revisions to the process have made it possible for candidates to complete the process over the course of several years instead of having to do it all in one year. South Carolina is proud to have 8,928 NBCTs. Be sure to follow updates in the coming weeks regarding the Proviso that governs the salary supplement for NBCTs.

CERRA can provide support for your District Forum.Contact Suzanne Koty at Suzanne@cerra.org for more information.Options: Organizational support, presentations, strategic planning, and more

The top five finalists for 2019 South Carolina Teacher of the Year were named last week. They are:

Robert Harris - Hand Middle School - Richland 1

Zachariah Lowe - Mayewood Middle School - Sumter

Jeffrey Maxey - Starr Elementary School - Anderson 3

Nick Snyder - Cane Bay High School - Berkeley

Susan Snyder - Northwestern High School - York 3 (Rock Hill)

The 2019 SC Teacher of the Year will be named at the SC Teacher of the Year Celebration on May 2 in Columbia. The SC Teacher of the Year serves a one-year residency at CERRA. Read more about the SC Teacher of the Year Program.